AutoZone employee critically injured during multi-vehicle hit-and-run in Philadelphia
An AutoZone employee was critically injured after a truck ran a red light, striking his vehicle before crashing into several other parked cars in Port Richmond Sunday morning, police said.
The multi-vehicle crash happened at around 7:20 a.m. Sunday at the Richmond and Venango street intersection in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood.
"It was really crazy. Seven o'clock in the morning, it sounded like a bomb went off, you know what I mean," said Eric Flemming, whose home surveillance video captured the aftermath of the crash.
According to police, a Dodge Ram truck, filled with at least four juveniles, was speeding eastbound on Venango Street. At the same time, a Chevrolet truck, driven by an AutoZone employee, was heading northbound on Richmond Street. The Dodge truck then ran a red light and struck the side of the Chevy truck, sending both cars sliding into at least five unoccupied parked vehicles on the street, according to police.
Flemming's car was one of the vehicles hit in the aftermath.
Police say four juveniles wearing dark clothing, ski masks and puffy coats were seen exiting the Dodge after the crash. A white SUV following the Dodge then pulled up to the crash site, and police say the juveniles may have escaped in that car. Police said they are looking into whether the Dodge was stolen.
"It was nothing but smoke and debris all over," neighbor Helen MacEwan said.
Investigators said the AutoZone employee, who is a 40-year-old man, was taken to Temple University Hospital by police and is said to be in critical condition.
Frank Mikulak lives down the street and shared his cellphone video of the mangled metal left behind.
"I feel sorry for the guy who got hurt," Mikulak said. "It just happens, accidents happen. But it shouldn't have happened."
AutoZone workers told CBS News Philadelphia the 40-year-old employee worked at the store location off Aramingo Avenue.
"Everything else is replaceable. I have insurance," Flemming said. "More than likely it will be totaled so I'll get another car. But he was the only one that was seriously hurt, you what I mean, that's the one that everybody should care about."
"This is the first thing something like this has happened," another neighbor said on Sunday. "I still don't understand how the whole thing took place."
The Crash Investigation Division is investigating the incident. Philadelphia police urge anyone with information related to the multi-vehicle crash to call them at 215-685-3180.
